Ark Volume 01 - Japtem

by Yoo Seong

  Ark followed Andel’s back as he unremittingly set up a strategy inside his mind. In the first place, since it was a dungeon he’d come to through an F difficulty quest, the level wasn’t that high.

  As the level 43 Andel received Ark’s assistance, the aggravated monsters were soon cleared. And when nearly 2 hours had passed, the two defeated at least a hundred odd monsters and arrived at the last part of the cave.

  “I see the end now. It’s thanks to Ark-nim."

  “Oh no, there’s not much I’ve done, jeez.”

  “But compared to the difficulty, a worthwhile item hasn’t come out. Although I have to give it to Ark-nim…”

  “Please do not worry about it. And it’s not like we’ve reached the end yet, either.”

  “That’s true. Then let’s hurry and finish it.”

  It was when Andel, who’d finished restoring, stood up.

  *Kuuoooooo!*

  Suddenly, with a roar that shook the cave, a warning message popped up.

  - The boss monster Crystal Golem has appeared!

  An enormous hand reached out all of a sudden from behind the corner.

  It was a hand that looked like boulder chunks had been clumped together.

  As if led by that hand, a monster with a gargantuan body rounded the corner. It was a Golem made of gathered boulders that gave off a bluish light. The Golem rolled its red eyes, and after scanning Ark and Andel, it loosed a shout with a harsh voice.

  “FOOD!”

  “Be careful!” Andel yelled as he drew up his shield.

  With a loud bang, Andel was pushed back. Ark quickly went behind the golem’s back and stabbed with his sword.

  The Golem however only shrugged it’s shoulder. It did not seem to have received a significant amount of damage.

  When Andel called the status check command, a health bar appeared above the Golem’s head. The Heath that Ark’s attack had decreased was just 1 percent.

  “Ark-nim, please give me support!”

  “If it’s Andel-nim, you can surpass your wound and defeat the Golem!”

  Ark unfurled the Nursing skill as he nodded his head.

  Andel’s sword, who received vigor and courage, and even a minor blessing, struck the Golem as it sliced through the air. With a massive cry, the Golem took a few steps back. At one blow of the Warrior with up to 200 Strength, they could see the Golem’s Health drop significantly.

  “I’ll block from the front, so please guard my back!”

  “Yes!”

  Ark and Andel’s series of attacks unfurled. Andel struck the Golem squarely as he set his shield in front, and as the high Agility Ark sought critical hits from behind the Golem, consecutive attacks unfurled.

  Andel was definitely strong. Due to having his whole body plastered in plate armor, his defense was also considerable, and he must’ve had ample funding because if his Health wore down even slightly, he downed a recovery potion. That was a luxury that Ark, who trembled at even 1 copper, couldn’t even imagine.

  However, the battle was not concluded easily. The Golem was strong to the point of not matching the dungeon’s difficulty, so strong that Ark couldn’t have possibly faced it if he were alone.

  But with the two’s concentrated attacks, the Golem’s Health also steadily neared the bottom.

  At the sight of the Golem wavering, Andel loosed the Warrior-type kill that he’d been saving.

  “Charge, crush of Strength— Warrior’s Blow!”

  Ba-ba-baaang, the Golem took a big step back as its body cracked again and again at the blow.

  When Ark’s attack struck as a critical hit from behind, the Golem finally couldn’t withstand it anymore and collapsed.

  Andel and Ark’s levels simultaneously went up by 1 each.

  Once the Golem collapsed, a single helmet and a mineral in the shape of a red mushroom were dropped as a brilliant burst of light shimmered out.

  “We won!”

  Just then, Andel hurriedly took out and drank a recovery potion.

  He did so even though there wasn’t even one monster around them. No matter how paralyzed he was about money sense, there was no need to handle something he could’ve done with one wheat bread without even a reason.

  Just as expected, Andel suddenly swung his sword toward Ark, who’d approached to check the items. But the Ark who’d been expecting his attack quickly stepped back and glared with a sharp gaze.

  “So now you reveal your true colors.”

  “Mwahaha, then did you really think I’d simply hand over boss-drop items?”

  “No, I didn’t believe you.”

  “Then there’s really nothing to resent me for.”

  “I’ll just ask one thing. Even when I was dying in Harun Village, you knew that the stats were decreasing, right?”

  “Of course. Wasn’t the guy who was tricked without knowing an idiot?”

  “Son of a bitch.”

  “Say what you want, because this time, I’ll make you want to give up the game.”

  Andel’s eyes gleamed with bloodthirst as he charged towards Ark.

  Ark blocked the sword with all his might. Ark’s sword was helplessly pushed back because the strength difference was too great.

  However, Andel’s continuous attacks were all the same. Because unlike Ark, who’d got by studying countless fighting methods in difficult situations, Andel was the type who raised his fighting ability merely through level ups.

  If they were the same level, he probably wouldn’t have even be a match for Ark. But in the game, there was a way to overcome a difference of 11 levels with just ability. In some way or another, the reason this situation was unfolding like a battle was because Ark received an ability bonus of 20 percent in the dark.

  Andel had an expression which seems to be saying he couldn’t understand the situation.

  “You persistent bastard, let’s see how long you can last!”

  Finally, after receiving hits on several occasions, Ark’s Health had been slashed by 50%, whereas Andel’s Health had only decreased by 20% due to his plated armor.

  Seeing Ark had bene overcome, Andel sneered.

  “Did you think I didn’t know anything? When we first walked into the cave, you used a Thief skill ‘Detect’ on me, right? You stupid bastard, you obediently followed me in even after checking my level. At that time, it was already predetermined you would die. Charge of Strength, Warrior’s Blow!”

  Andel used the skill with a triumphant voice.

  As the skill registered in rapid succession, in one blow Ark entered the critical state as his Health neared zero.

  ‘Now is the time!’

  Ark’s eyes flashed.

  It was just as Andel said. When he’d checked the bastard’s level, Ark had agonized over whether he should run or not. But he didn’t run.

  The first reason was his hatred toward Andel, the second was he had been sure there was a method to take Andel down. And that a method that could only be used now, while in a critical state.

  “Eyes of the Cat!”

  As Ark’s eyes colored with golden light, red points marking Andel’s weak points appeared all over his body.

  Sure enough, perhaps because he was a Warrior who invested while believing only in his level and defense, his entire body was riddled with weak points. As an effect of the skill, his Health also appeared. Andel’s consumed Health up until now was just 35 percent.

  But now was the start!

  “Dark Blade!”

  Ark’s sword moved fluidly in the dark and lodged itself in Andel’s nape.

  - A critical hit ignoring all defenses has been delivered!

  Bewildered, Andel took a step back. Ark succeeded in another Dark Blade attack in an instant as he took one step forward. In the blink of an eye, Andel’s Health plummeted by 50 percent.

  Ark’s learned skill was a result made of 5 simultaneously overlapping buffs.

  The very first one that applied was the 20 percent ability increase within the dark.
The next ones were raising the attack power and critical hit rate by detecting the weak spots with Eyes of the Cat, and the Undying Will and Indomitable Body that were invoked in the critical state swiftly increased the numbers once more.

  The final touch was a Dark Walker’s profession skill, Dark Blade!

  It was a skill which ignored defense and raised attack power of critical hits by 150 percent. Although he didn’t defeat the 15 level higher Andel in one fatal hit, with the combined increase from the linked effects, with two attacks he slashed Andel’s Health down by 50 percent.

  The reason why he’d endured without using his Mana until he’d fallen into the critical state was solely for this moment.

  It was an act of burning one’s bridges that only Ark, who had grown from only fierce battles, could use!

  Andel’s face blanched.

  “Gasp, ho-how can this be!”

  Andel urgently used the [Detect] command.

  Then, as he soon checked Ark’s remaining Mana, he heaved a sigh of relief. Due to having used Eyes of the Cat and Dark Blade twice, he didn’t have any Mana left. Whereas Ark’s Health had 5 percent left now, Andel still had 15 percent left.

  “Hng, looks like your last-ditch effort ends here. Since you don’t have much Mana left, you can’t use your skills, either.”

  “Do you really think so?”

  A cold smile touched Ark’s lips.

  “Blood-red Mantle of Dreams!”

  Ark was enveloped as the scarlet mantle suddenly flared out.

  Simultaneously, Ark’s Health had recovered 100 percent. With his Health suddenly restored, Andel had a flummoxed expression. But the truly surprising thing was from then onwards. After that, Andel’s swung sword attacks all deflected off the mantle.

  The ability of the Blood-red Mantle of Dreams to nullify all attacks for 10 seconds! There wasn’t much meaning in monster hunting, but if the opponent was a user, it demonstrated absolute power.

  Andel’s eyes flared with astonishment

  “N-no way… are you saying that mantle was a Rare item?”

  It was true. Ark hadn’t just equipped the mantle to hide his stats. And in order to use the mantle’s ability, which could only be used at night, Ark had purposefully drawn out the time.

  Andel, who realized for the first time that something had gone wrong, hurriedly pulled out a recovery potion.

  Ark’s eyes froze with urgency.

  ‘He can’t. The mantle’s effect is already over. If the bastard drinks the potion, I can’t predict the outcome.’

  “Summon Demon, Bat! No matter what you have to do, block that bastard! If you don’t, I’ll make you eat food without rest for ten days!”

  “Eeeek! No way!”

  As the Bat was summoned, it flew rapidly at Andel.

  And then, it hurled and shoved itself into the mouth of Andel, who’d been trying to drink the recovery potion.

  “You did well. Bat!”

  Ark unfurled his Sword-Hand Combat and toppled Andel. Then he stepped on both of Andel’s hands and raised his sword.

  After smiling coldly, Ark thrust his sword down without hesitation.

  “Kuhuk, y-you little shit… Just wait and see!”

  After those words, Andel sagged weakly. He died and was forced to log out.

  - You have defeated a level 44 Chaotic player.

  - Fame +30.

  Ark released the breath he’d been holding in one burst.

  He’d finally gotten his revenge. And it’d been against an opponent 11 levels higher!

  When the battle tension settled down, an electrifying pleasure swept down his body. The Ark who’d been briefly savoring the pleasure turned around.

  It was for the right given only to the victor, picking up the loot.

  Many penalties were added to Chaotic users.

  One of those was that they lost their equipment at death. When a normal user died, they dropped an equipment item at a fixed probability, but each time a Chaotic user died, they dropped one equipment item no matter what. Steel Greaves at the place where Andel had died.

  “Information window!”

  Steel Greaves

  Armor Type

  Steel Footwear

  Defense

  50

  Durability

  7/80

  Weight

  30

  Usage Restriction

  At least 150 Strength

  Steel Greaves made from smelting good quality steel. Although movement is slowed, you can expect excellent defense that cannot be compared to a leather product. Agility -5, the penalty is nulled if used by a Warrior-related profession.

  Ark, who’d stored the Steel Greaves, also checked the Crystal Golem drops.

  Crystal Golem’s Head (Magic)

  Armor Type

  Stone Helmet

  Defense

  40

  Durability

  50/50

  Weight

  40

  Usage Restriction

  At least 135 Strength

  A Golem’s head imbued with the strength of magical crystal. The material quality is strong enough to block an iron mace, and it can clear your mind with the magical strength. Option: Mana +100

  Crystal: The Mana-filled mineral that the Crystal Golem had been growing in its body.

  It was when Ark had picked up the Crystal. Light spewed from his hand all of a sudden and a new information window opened.

  Through your Knowledge of Ancient Relics, you have discovered hidden information of the Crystal.

  The Crystal is a blood crystal, one of the Ancient Relics.

  As a blood crystal, an ancient organic mineral that gives the power of healing, it will naturally develop if fragments are buried within a manufactured Golem’s body and furnished with nourishment. Because Mana-rich humans were used as nourishment for the Golem, production was banned long ago.

  Bonus for acquiring information of the ancient relic crystal.

  - Knowledge of Ancient Relics +5.

  - Intelligence +5.

  - Fame has increased by 30.

  The quest has been updated.

  Alchemist Raymond’s Request = The Secret of the Blood Crystal

  The mineral that Raymond asked you to get was one of the ancient relics, a blood crystal. It seems that Raymond purposefully planted and raised the blood crystal within the crystal golem’s body and was supporting it with sacrificial travelers. In order to prevent more sacrifices, you must interrogate Raymond, obtain a confession, and inform a guard of Jackson.

  Difficulty: G

  After briefly looking at the blood crystal, Ark turned his gaze.

  Andel’s body hadn’t disappeared yet. When a user died from PvP, there was a penalty of their body not disappearing for 24 hours and they couldn’t log in as well.

  It blocked revenge ploys that had been problematic in online games on several occasions and was considerate of giving the victor time to enjoy their win.

  However, this kind of penalty had more meaning to Ark.

  “Wait and see? Hah, how funny. You picked the wrong guy to mess with.”

  « o »

  Ark immediately returned to Jackson Castle.

  While he was waiting at the right time near the Quartermaster, Andel appeared with white light.

  As expected, he’d set his resurrection place to Jackson, which was close to the dungeon. It was well worth seeing him standing there robbed of his shoes, barefooted in his plate armor.

  Andel, who noticed Ark, flinched in surprised and his body began to tremble.

  “Y-you, you bastard……!”

  “Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you say wait and see?”

  Ark sprang up and rushed at Andel.

  Even though users were starting a fight right in front of the village, the Soldiers turned a blind eye.

  That was yet another penalty that Chaotic users received.

  Normally, if users fought amongst themselves near the village, they’d be attac
ked by a Soldier. However, there were exceptions.

  One was if a normal user were to attack a Chaotic user first. A fight like this was far more advantageous for the normal user. When the normal user was pushed back, all they had to do was flee to the village. But the Chaotic user couldn’t enter the village or chase them in either, and on the flip side, they had no where to run.

  That was the reason why users feared becoming Chaotic.

  Ark beat up Andel without mercy.

  Similar to their previous battle, he landed critical hits continuously in the critical state and became invincible through the mantle’s power when he was in a pinch.

  The stat penalty was doubled if you were killed by a user. Therefore, it meant all of Andel’s stats had been cut by 2. Andel, who also had lowered defense because he even lost the Steel Greaves, crumbled feebly.

  He was a user who wasn’t like Ark who had real skills, but had gotten by through the strength of his stats and items.

  “You mongrel, you’re dead…”

  Andel babbled nonsense as he dropped more of his armor.

  Ark snickered as he stored the item. Then, after hunting while roaming around the area, he camped at the resurrection site and waited when exactly 24 hours had passed. It seems Andel didn’t even considered Ark might be waiting for him there again. It was truly a delusion.

  ‘Don’t make me laugh, how long do you think I’ve waited for this day!’

  When he fought Andel, who didn’t even have shoes, armor, and had -4 stats, soon he didn’t even need the mantle’s ability. As soon as Eyes of the Cat and Dark Blade went into a continuous combo, Andel collapsed listlessly. The bastard must’ve realized the severity of the situation at last because next time, he didn’t log in even though 24 hours had passed.

  ‘Hah, you’re saying we should see whose patience is greater, right? If the bastard is an applicant, he probably won’t be able to endure not logging in for a few days.’

  For the first time in his life, Ark went as far as to submit a week-long vacation from work.